Tom Gantert, Senior Capitol Correspondent [Mackinac Center]

Tom Gantert is senior capitol correspondent for Michigan Capitol Confidential, a daily news site of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy.

When Gantert arrived at Capitol Confidential in February 2010, he already had extensive experience as a journalist, having worked for more than 20 years at Michigan daily newspapers, including The Jackson Citizen Patriot, Lansing State Journal and Ann Arbor News. Gantert also served a four-month stint at USA Today as part of a Gannett Corporation loaner program. In 2008, Gantert was The Ann Arbor News writer of the year, and in September 2009, he founded Reporting Michigan, a nonprofit news Web site.

Gantert holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Michigan State University. He has two sons and lives in Jackson, Mich.

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Constitutional Convention Delegates Wanted State Worker Pensions To Be Fully Funded

Published on Dec. 17, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Dire Predictions for School District Deficits Doesn't Materialize

Published on Dec. 16, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Sun Sets on Another Cop Drama Shot In Detroit; Taxpayers Lose More Money

Published on Dec. 12, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Michigan Union Invokes Slavery in Argument Against Right-to-Work Law

Published on Dec. 11, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Michigan Schools Promoting Large Number Of Students Who Cannot Read

Published on Dec. 9, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Contrary to Report, Charter Schools Get Less Money Per Pupil Than Conventional Schools

Published on Dec. 6, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Almost 220,000 Michigan Public School Students Rely On School Choice

Published on Dec. 4, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Results — Not Dollars Spent — Matter For Parents Choosing Schools For Their Students

Published on Dec. 2, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Despite Fewer Students, Michigan School Funding Going Up, Up, Up

Published on Dec. 2, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Union Fighting For $10K Severance For Teacher Who Pleaded Guilty to Molesting a Student

Published on Nov. 27, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Conservative Budgeting Helps Some Teachers Get Cash Back

Published on Nov. 26, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Political Views Populate Website MEA Official Helped Create

Published on Nov. 22, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Man-made Global Warming Discussions Heating Up in Michigan

Published on Nov. 19, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Insults, Profanity Pepper Lecture in EMU Sociology Class

Published on Nov. 18, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Anti-GOP MSU Professor Will Be Back in the Classroom Next Semester

Published on Nov. 15, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Legal Expert: Reopening School Union Contracts Makes Them Subject To Right-to-Work

Published on Nov. 15, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Disrespect, Bullying Convinces Paraeducator That Union Not Interested in its Members

Published on Nov. 13, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

MEA Agency Fees Far Exceed Cost of Contract Negotiations

Published on Nov. 11, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

A Tale of Two Recessions

Published on Nov. 11, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Legislators Vote To Continue Special Subsidy Program Without Knowing Whether It Works

Published on Nov. 7, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

State Still Downplaying Socioeconomic Status' Impact on School Rankings

Published on Nov. 5, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Prohibition Era Rules Prevent Michigan Bars From Having Glasses or Napkins With Logos

Published on Nov. 4, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Teacher Who Never Wanted Union Representation Still Forced To Be A Member

Published on Nov. 1, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Union Prez: Average Detroit High School Student Missed 46 Days of School Last Year

Published on Oct. 30, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Detroit Teachers Union Gives Members Freedom MEA Doesn’t

Published on Oct. 29, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Teacher Got Plenty of Info About Paying Union Dues, Nothing About Opting Out of the MEA

Published on Oct. 29, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

MEDC Boss Says Agency Changing; Has Long History of Backing Bad Companies

Published on Oct. 28, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

MEA Charging Members Extra To Cover Retirement Liabilities For Union's Employees

Published on Oct. 24, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Union Threatens Hall of Fame Coach With Legal Action For Not Paying Dues

Published on Oct. 23, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

MEA Says 1 Percent of Teachers Have Left Union, But Claim is Questionable

Published on Oct. 22, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

'Secretive Obama Administration' Official to Kick Off Event on Transparency

Published on Oct. 18, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Union Tries to Shame Ex-Members

Published on Oct. 17, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Detroit To Waive Old Fees On Property Sales

Published on Oct. 15, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Beer Website Provides More Information About Taxpayer Investment Than The State

Published on Oct. 12, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Who’s the Freeloader? MEA Spends More On Benefits Than Bargaining

Published on Oct. 9, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Exodus From Michigan Is Slowing

Published on Oct. 7, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Michigan Residents Doing Better Financially

Published on Oct. 4, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Feds Take Money But Pass On the Job of Disposing Nuclear Waste

Published on Oct. 2, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Media Reports Mass Teacher Layoffs; Follow-Up Shows Stories Lacked Substance

Published on Oct. 1, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Michigan's Increased Unemployment Rate the Result of Growing Labor Force

Published on Sept. 28, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Ann Arbor Considers Cutting Lucrative Fossil Fuel Stocks From Underfunded Pension Plan

Published on Sept. 27, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

High Taxes Make Cigarettes 'Gold Bars' For Thieves

Published on Sept. 25, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Road Funding Finds New Target With Horse-Drawn Vehicles

Published on Sept. 23, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Community College Labor Studies Class Features Nearly All Union Perspective

Published on Sept. 18, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Union Graphic Leaves Out Billions of Public Dollars To Claim Education 'Cuts'

Published on Sept. 17, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Despite Union Leader Complaints, Michigan Exports Exploding

Published on Sept. 16, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

State Agency Approves Subsidy Deals Despite Repeated Shortcomings

Published on Sept. 12, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

State Taxpayers Pay For Journalists to Go on Golf Course Tours

Published on Sept. 9, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

'Special Interest' Campaign Rhetoric Doesn't Match With Reality

Published on Sept. 7, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

MSU English Professor Threatens Students in Anti-Republican Rant

Published on Sept. 4, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Union Executive Calls Most Member Grievances 'Frivolous'

Published on Sept. 3, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Right-to-Work States Attracting More Citizens, Wealth

Published on Aug. 29, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

At Least 90 School Contracts Expire This Month, Allowing Teachers To Leave Union

Published on Aug. 28, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Detroit Dishes Out Excessive Taxes, Fees To Business Owners

Published on Aug. 26, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Lawsuit Filed Against Teamsters For Extra Fee Imposed On Right-to-Work Employees

Published on Aug. 22, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

School District Links Retiree Benefits Funding To Salary Schedule

Published on Aug. 21, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Charter School Results Proving ACLU Lawsuit Wrong

Published on Aug. 20, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Union Rewards Teachers With Days Off For Giving Money To Union PAC

Published on Aug. 19, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

'Low Winter Sun' Buzz Ignores Taxpayer Subsidies

Published on Aug. 16, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

MEA President Goes After Local Teachers' Union President

Published on Aug. 14, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

School District Sees Success Through Merit Pay

Published on Aug. 13, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Hypocritical Outrage Over Conventional Schools Closed Versus Charter Public Schools

Published on Aug. 6, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Dissolved School District Repeatedly Overspent Despite Deficits

Published on Aug. 5, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

School District Settles Lawsuit Over School Supplies Fees

Published on Aug. 3, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

How Much Has the Detroit Police Force Really Been Cut?

Published on Aug. 1, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

State School Consolidation Plan Comes Under Fire

Published on July 29, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Teacher Union President Continues Misrepresentation of School Aid Facts

Published on July 26, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

School Districts Cannot Require Parents To Buy School Supplies

Published on July 24, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Economy Inundated With Part-Time Workers

Published on July 22, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

District Dumps Union Insurance, Saves $450K and Pays 100% of Health Care

Published on July 19, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

State Education Spending Still Increasing While Serving Fewer Students

Published on July 16, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Ann Arbor Students and Parents Take Cuts While Teachers Get Raises

Published on July 15, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Job Numbers Vary Widely for Taxpayer Funded Electric Car Battery Maker A123 Systems

Published on July 12, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Lawsuit Against Decade-Long Union Dues Clause Suffers Setback

Published on July 10, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Snyder Administration Pushing To Distance Medicaid Expansion From Obamacare

Published on July 9, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Union Pay Scale Ignores Exceptional Teachers

Published on July 8, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Michigan Radio Doubles Down on 'Anemic' Job Growth Claim

Published on July 3, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

MEA Demands Immediate Health Insurance Payment From School District In Serious Debt

Published on July 1, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Legislator, Union Want Tenured Teachers From Dissolved Districts Hired First In Other Schools

Published on June 28, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Despite Media Claims, Michigan Among Highest Job Growth States

Published on June 27, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

State and Federal Regulations Burying Businesses

Published on June 25, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Public School Pension System Totally Broken

Published on June 24, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

State 'Teacher of the Year' Finalist Given Middle-of-the-Pack Pay

Published on June 21, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Government Report Shows Film Jobs Stagnant Despite Incentives

Published on June 18, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Misplaced Blame for Albion Schools Problems

Published on June 17, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Majority of Fastest-Growing U.S. Cities Are In Right-to-Work States

Published on June 15, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

MEA Ignores Socioeconomic Status In Claiming Public Charter School is 'Failing'

Published on June 14, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Medicaid Expansion Bill Heads to the House

Published on June 13, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Michigan House Republicans Buckle on Obamacare Medicaid Expansion

Published on June 12, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Union Salary Schedule Ensures State 'Teacher of the Year' Earns Near Bottom In Pay

Published on June 10, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Increased School Funding Did Not Slow Districts In Deficit

Published on June 8, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Defenders Of Public School Monopoly Slam 'Big Profit' Competitors; Haul In Big Money For Themselves

Published on June 6, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Gov. Snyder Calls On Obamacare Advocate No. 1

Published on June 5, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Democratic Strategist Calls Charter School Official 'The Human Herpes Virus'

Published on May 30, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Government Entities Stymie FOIA Requests To Hide Information

Published on May 29, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

School Official Uses Social Media To Attack Policy Makers Again

Published on May 28, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

School District Denies Teacher's Claim of Bias in Evaluations

Published on May 24, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

No Free Lunch: $15 an Hour Fast Food Workers Would Lead to Lost Jobs

Published on May 22, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Loss of Funding Not To Blame For School District Failures

Published on May 20, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential

Commentary: IRS Scrutiny Hits Close to Home

Published on May 17, 2013 – Michigan Capitol Confidential